Admiral Beatty Hotel
The Admiral Beatty Hotel, now called the Rotary Admiral Beatty Complex, is a former luxury hotel located at King's Square in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Built in 1925, the establishment was designed by Ross and Macdonald and featured eight stories. Following its permanent closure in 1982, the Admiral Beatty Hotel was converted into a senior citizen apartment building in 1986.
Description
The Admiral Beatty Hotel stands at the intersection of King Square South and Charlotte Street,[1] adjacent to the Imperial Theatre.[2] According to a 1925 measurement, the building reaches a height of 148 feet (45 m).[3] It features eight stories and, during its time as a hotel, 250 rooms.[4] Designed by architectural firm Ross and Macdonald, the building has been described as Neoclassic,[5] and it was built with stone and brick.[4]
History
Dufferin Hotel
Before the establishment of the Admiral Beatty Hotel, the site was occupied by the Dufferin Hotel, located at the very spot where the Admiral Beatty Hotel would eventually be constructed.[1] It was named in honour of Frederick Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, who served as the Governor General of Canada.[6] The land on which the Dufferin Hotel was built had previously been the location of an old windmill, which, in 1807, while struggling financially as a mill, had been temporarily occupied by the Kings County Militia due to war between Great Britain and the United States. Subsequently, the mill was repurposed as a poorhouse and served in that capacity until it was destroyed by fire in 1817.[7] The Dufferin was a hotel measuring four storeys, where it was demolished in 1924.[1] Among those who stayed at the hotel included Harry Houdini.[8] The Dufferin Hotel, which had been running for around 45 years at the time, publicly closed its doors on October 29, 1923.[9] Demolition work for the Dufferin Hotel to make way for the Admiral Beatty Hotel started on January 23, 1924.[10]
Establishment and use
The Admiral Beatty Hotel was initially planned for construction in 1923. Named in honor of
The Admiral Beatty was also used to host several events including receptions and community events, as well as dances which were held in the hotel's ballroom.[19] In 1926, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce's first convention took place at the Admiral Beatty Hotel.[20]
Prior to the early 1950s, the Admiral Beatty Hotel restricted black people in Saint John from entering the hotel.
The Admiral Beatty Hotel started experiencing difficulties during the 1970s due to the city seeing newer hotel establishments.[25] In May 1982, the Saint John Board of Trade was notified by the hotel that starting on May 28, 1982, the Board of Trade Dining Room will close down as a result of high operating costs, as well as costly food and beverages.[26] In October 1982, the Admiral Beatty Hotel ceased operations.[25]
Later usage as an apartment complex
The Admiral Beatty Hotel was proposed to be demolished to make way for a parking lot.
In 2021, the apartment complex's quality came into question, with a 69-year-old who lived there from 2013 to 2021 speaking out about the complex having mice chewing her belongings, as well as rain leaking in through the windows.[35]
Notable visitors
On May 20, 1932, the Admiral Beatty Hotel's dining room was visited by
On November 6, 1951, Saint John was visited by a Royal motorcade, resulting in numerous people fainting. Members of the Canadian royal family, including Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, entered the Admiral Beatty Hotel. The hotel was used to hold a reception, where Saint John mayor George E. Howard presented a gift to the royal couple on behalf of the City of Saint John.[38] Police lines were held in front of the hotel, controlling the crowd that demanded to see Elizabeth, who would afterward look out of a window to wave at the crowd.[39]
In 1964, American evangelist Billy Graham visited Saint John, during which he was interviewed at the Admiral Beatty Hotel.[40]
References
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- ISBN 978-0-7735-5847-2. Archivedfrom the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "OPENING CEREMONIES BEGIN TODAY". Telegraph Journal. June 22, 1925. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d Chafe, Alexander (August 12, 2022). "Living the suite life at 97-year-old Admiral Beatty Hotel". Atlantic Business Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ "HistoricPlaces.ca - HistoricPlaces.ca". www.historicplaces.ca. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ Wright, Harold (February 3, 1992). "King's Square Hotel". Harold Wright's Historic Saint John. Evening Times Globe. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "Man on the Street". Evening Times Globe. May 25, 1938. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ MacLean, Andrew (August 19, 2023). "The Maritimes tour that made Houdini". Times & Transcript. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "DUFFERIN HOTEL AT ST. JOHN CLOSES DOORS TODAY". Canadian press. The Daily Times. October 29, 1923. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "START ERECTION OF NEW ST. JOHN HOTEL". The Daily Gleaner. January 23, 1924. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "our tourism timeline: one thing after another". Evening Times Globe. January 1, 2000. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ "ENLARGED ADMIRAL BEATTY HOTEL IN USE TODAY". Evening Times Globe. May 31, 1930. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ Biermann, Helmer (June 13, 1994). "CHSJ Country 700 celebrating Jubilee anniversary". Telegraph Journal. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "ATTENDING INSURANCE UNDERWRITERS CONGRESS". The Daily Times. March 12, 1926. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
- ^ "Maritime Branch of Association Conducts Business and Enjoys Banquet". Telegraph Journal. April 30, 1926. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
- ^ "Program Given By Local Music Club". Telegraph Journal. March 4, 1926. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
- ^ "Frink Offers Cup at Parley of Amateur Body in Saint John". Telegraph Journal. April 26, 1926. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
- ^ "LIBERAL PARLEY HELD AT ST. JOHN". Canadian Press. The Daily Times. December 29, 1925. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
- ^ "Hotel To Become Seniors Apartment Complex". Telegraph Journal. February 28, 1985. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "Meeting coming to city". Evening Times Globe. April 2, 1998. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ a b c Government of New Brunswick, Canada (30 January 2013). "Black History Month". New Brunswick Human Rights Commission. Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ "Saint John woman named winner of 1998 Human Rights award". New Brunswick Telegraph Journal. December 2, 1998. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ a b Marchildon, Sarah (March 3, 1998). "Woman who forced down racial barriers will be feted on March 9". Evening Times Globe. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ "Taking on the world to make it better". Evening Times Globe. August 4, 1998. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ a b c "Admiral Beatty Complex one of major projects". Telegraph Journal. June 5, 1989. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ "Hotel Closing Dining Room". Evening Times Globe. May 12, 1982. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ "Most vacancies exist on upper floors". Evening Times Globe. February 12, 1988. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ Trueman, Mac (February 26, 2003). "Rotary club seeks big project to mark 100th anniversary". Telegraph-Journal. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ McIntosh, Mary (April 22, 2005). "Low-income and seniors housing a priority". Telegraph Journal. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ Mullen, Mike (December 31, 1984). "City Takes On Proud, New Spirit". Evening Times Globe. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Court: Hotel Can Be Sold". Daily Gleaner. August 9, 1984. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Permission To Sell Hotel Is Granted". Telegraph Journal. August 9, 1984. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ "Way Cleared For City To Buy ABH". Evening Times Globe. December 28, 1984. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "Rotary Admiral Beatty Complex". sjnph. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ McPhee, Emma (June 4, 2021). "'I couldn't live there anymore'". Telegraph-Journal. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ a b Trueman, Mac (March 21, 1992). "The day Amelia came to town". Telegraph-Journal. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ History, Backyard. "When Amelia Earhart Came To The Maritimes". Backyard History. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ "Royal Visitors In Saint John And Fredericton". Evening Times Globe. November 7, 1951. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ Smith, Bill (November 7, 1951). "Police Lines Fail To Hold Crowd Demanding Appearance Of Princess". Evening Times Globe. Archived from the original on 20 August 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- ^ Wiliams, David (June 30, 1998). "Billy Graham was a 45-year-old spellbinder when he held a Saint John crowd in the palm of his hand 34 years ago". Evening Times Globe. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.